Clinical thermometer

Abstract

A clinical thermometer for detecting an infrared ray radiated from a tympanic membrane eliminates thermometric errors caused by differences from one patient to another and variations in thermometric operations, to always perform stable, accurate thermometry. A clinical thermometer converts infrared radiation from a substantially tympanic membrane into an electrical signal to perform temperature detection, the thermometer including an almost cylindrical probe body. A constricted diameter portion formed at one end of the probe body can be inserted into an external auditory meatus and deformed so as to conform to a shape of the external auditory meatus. An infrared sensor incorporated in the constricted diameter portion is thereby arranged to receive radiation from the tympanic membrane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A clinical thermometer for converting infrared radiation from a tympanic membrane into an electrical signal to perform temperature measurement, comprising: an almost cylindrical probe body;   a constricted diameter portion formed at one end of said probe body for insertion into an external auditory meatus near the tympanic membrane and deformable so as to conform to a shape of the external auditory meatus; and   an infrared sensor incorporated in said constricted diameter portion, and held in a biased state toward a window member by a flexible support member, said window member being disposed in an opening end of said constricted diameter portion for directing radiation from the tympanic membrane and the external auditory meatus near the tympanic membrane to said infrared sensor.   
     
     
       2. The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein a deformable portion of said constricted diameter portion extends a predetermined length from an insertion end of said constricted diameter portion. 
     
     
       3. The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said flexible support member further comprises: a rod-like support member extending from an interior of said probe body to an interior of said constricted diameter portion and   an elastic member arranged at a distal end of said rod-like support member within said constricted diameter portion.   
     
     
       4. The thermometer according to claim 3, wherein said infrared sensor is held in said biased state at a predetermined position between said window member and said elastic member. 
     
     
       5. The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said constricted diameter portion is made of a synthetic resin-based soft material. 
     
     
       6. The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said constricted diameter portion is made of a rubber-like material. 
     
     
       7. The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said thermometer further comprises a biological information detecting means for detecting information except for the body temperature, arranged in a peripheral portion of the probe body. 
     
     
       8. The thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said probe body comprises an outer surface formed rough. 
     
     
       9. The clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said constricted diameter portion is pivotal through 360° and retractable at said one end of said probe body. 
     
     
       10. The thermometer according to claim 9, wherein said infrared sensor is arranged near a pivot portion of said constricted diameter portion to receive an infrared ray guided through a light guide body. 
     
     
       11. A clinical thermometer for converting infrared radiation from at least one of a tympanic membrane and an external auditory canal portion near the tympanic membrane into an electrical signal to perform temperature measurement, comprising: an almost cylindrical probe body;   a constricted diameter portion formed at one end of said probe body for insertion into the external auditory canal portion near the tympanic membrane and deformable so as to conform to a shape of the external auditory canal portion; and   an infrared sensor incorporated in said constricted diameter portion, and held in a biased state at a predetermined position between a window member and an elastic member by a holding member extending from an interior of said probe body to an interior of said constricted diameter portion, said elastic member arranged at an end of said holding member, and said window member disposed in an opening end of said constricted diameter portion for receiving radiation from the tympanic membrane and the external auditory canal portion near the tympanic membrane.   
     
     
       12. The thermometer according to claim 11, wherein said constricted diameter portion is made of a synthetic resin-based soft material. 
     
     
       13. The thermometer according to claim 12, wherein said constricted diameter portion is made of a rubber-based soft material. 
     
     
       14. A clinical thermometer comprising: an infrared sensor for receiving infrared radiation from a tympanic membrane portion and detecting a change in temperature by the infrared radiation; and   a distal end portion of a probe for insertion into an external auditory meatus for thermometry, and deformable to conform to a shape of the external auditory meatus such that said infrared sensor will receive said infrared radiation, said infrared sensor being held in a biased state toward a window member of said distal end portion by a flexible support member.   
     
     
       15. A clinical thermometer according to claim 14, wherein said probe further comprises: an almost cylindrical probe body; and   a constricted diameter portion of said distal end portion arranged to be pivotal through 360° and retractable at one end of said probe body, said infrared sensor being incorporated in said constricted diameter portion.   
     
     
       16. The thermometer according to claim 15, wherein said infrared sensor is arranged near a pivot portion of said constricted diameter portion to guide an infrared ray through a light guide body. 
     
     
       17. The thermometer according to claim 15, wherein said infrared sensor is arranged near said window member incorporated in said constricted diameter portion. 
     
     
       18. The thermometer according to claim 15, wherein said constricted diameter portion is made of a synthetic resin-based soft material. 
     
     
       19. The thermometer according to claim 15, wherein said constricted diameter portion is made of a rubber-based soft material.